Featuring his first invention at the Eskom Science Expo last year, Kau Mahlamonyane has earned himself an invitation to be assessed by leading scientists and engineers in the US.

Mohlamonyane is from a town called Groblersdal in Limpopo. He said his fourth and final prototype took two months to create. His invention consists of two exit pipes and one input pipe. Using the basic fundamentals of electronics it detects if water is clean or dirty.

"The final prototype enables the device to be able to store the reusable water being wasted."

This 17-year-old created a smart pipe that can detect wasted clean water that passes through drainage systems.

Mohlamonyane is a Grade 11 pupil attending Hoërskool Ben Viljoen. His dream is to have smart pipes installed in households all over the world. He is planning to work in the electrical engineering field.

His mother Nkata Mohlamonyane said: "I am thankful to God who has given him his talents. It has been his dream to travel the world."

Briefly.co.za learnt that Mohlamonyane’s invention will be show cased at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) from 13 May 13 to 18 May. It is held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where up to $4-million (about R50.3-million) in prizes will be up for grabs.

"I'm really excited about it. It's the first time I will be travelling by airplane and if they like my invention I'll represent South Africa in the biggest science fair in the world," he said.

Mohlamonyane and seven other participants will be accompanied by Krishnie Naidoo, Eskom Science Expo academic director.

"He's worked very hard. He went through rigorous interviews to be selected for the expo in America."

A case study was done by Mohlamonyane to see how much water could be saved by a family of five. Up to 16% of water used in households could be saved by his smart pipe.

"The inspiration for this device came about when I was washing dishes. I realised that when we want cool water from the tap, we let the hot water run until it cools. This is a waste of clean water."

He said that large quantities of clean water is been wasted in day-to-day activities within the household.

It is young men like Mohlamonyane that are going to change the world and make it possible for our future generations to live.